Chiefs face uphill battle after first-leg defeat in Zambia

Kaizer Chiefs’ ambitions of progressing to the group stages of the Confederation Cup were dealt a huge blow after they lost 1-0 to Red Arrows in Zambia yesterday.

Arrows scored through Alassane Diarra after 76 minutes at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium after Amakhosi failed to deal with a corner kick, and now they must turn it around in the second leg in Johannesburg next week.

In front of their own supporters, Chiefs must produce a much better performance than they dished out in Ndola, where they failed to control the game and did not create enough changes.

One of the areas that coach Fernando da Cruz will not be happy about is that they conceded from a set piece, an area that has been a problem for them on occasion.

Da Cruz went into this match with a strong line-up of Ricardo Learner, Thabiso Monyane, Thabo Moloisane, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Mduduzi Tshabalala, Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman.

Attack-minded players

To try and get the much-needed goals in the second half, he introduced attack-minded players such as Flavio da Silva, Etiosa Ighodaro and Wandile Duba for ineffective Luke Baartman, Vilakazi and Shabalala.

However, Amakhosi suffered a blow after 30 minutes when defender Monyane suffered an injury and was replaced by Thulani Mabaso. It remains to be seen if he would be available for the return leg.

If Chiefs fail to progress to the group stages, it will be a massive blow, as they have ambitions of staying relevant in continental football, an area they want to feature in.

Over the past few years, the standard of the Confederation Cup has improved significantly, and most of the teams in the group and knockout stages are of high quality.

Most of the teams at the business end of the Confederation Cup are usually in the latter stages of the Champions League, and they provide serious competition that will benefit most of their players.

It will be a missed opportunity for players such as Tshabalala, Vilakazi, Baartman, Ighodaro, Bradley Cross, Langelihle Phili, Asanele Velebayi, Faiz Abrahams and Wandile Duba.

Hard-fought win

Meanwhile, Pirates earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against African Stars of Namibia during their Champions League qualification clash that was played at Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone.

Attacker Tshepang Moremi, who has been one of the stand-out performers for the Buccaneers so far this season in all competitions, scored the all-important goal after 75 minutes.

With his form, Moremi is expected to feature in Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana squad for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Kenya next month.

Bucs coach Abdeslam Ouaddou didn’t move much from their league win over TS Galaxy during the week with Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Lebone Seema, Bulelani Sigomoshe, Simphiwe Selepe and Gamphani Lungu keeping their places.

He recalled Nkosikhona Ndaba, Thalente Mbatha and Yanela Mbuthuma to the starting line-up, and they brought a different dimension to their defensive and attacking structure.

Impact from bench

Ouaddou then introduced Sbangani Zulu, Evidence Makgopa, Mpho Padime, Mthetheli Mthiyane for Sibisi, Mbuthuma, Moremi and Selepe as impact from the bench.

With this win, the Buccaneers have put themselves in a good position to progress to the group stages, where Ouaddou and his youthful squad are going to be tested to the limit at a higher level.

The Moroccan mentor is going to rely on senior players such as Chaine, Sibisi, Deon Hotto, Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, Moremi, Mohau Nkota and Makgopa, who have continental experience with Bafana Bafana, to mount a serious challenge.

If they make it to the group stages, the other beneficiary is Mosimane because emerging players like Seema and Mbuthuma will gain valuable experience.